Advice on getting med-related volunteer work

[dut99002]

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I am prepping to apply to different postbacc. programs right now and have a couple of general questions about volunteer/research experience for everyone:

1. It may depend on the program, and I know that it is beneficial, but do you need healthcare-related volunteer/clinical time to be competitive for entry to the postbaccalaurate programs, especially the John Hopkins, Penn, Bryn Mawr, Goucher's of the world?

2. I have zero healthcare-related volunteer/clinical time under my belt, but significant volunteer work otherwise (over two years worth). I am planning to apply and start one of the post baccalaureate programs early next summer hopefully. I want to volunteer (or job shadow some as well) until I start. Any ideas on how get started?

I have already checked local area hospital web sites, but am finding lots of entertaining patients' families/administrative paper work/translating for non English-speaking people opportunities. I am not opposed to them, but would hope that I could perhaps find something that would be stronger for a resume/application. I realize as well that I have no certifications/background in this, so my opportunities will be limited. What methods have you all used in the past that have been successfull in finding quality medical-related volunteer roles. I am still working full-time, so I can only help on nights and Saturdays.

I appreciate any and all help. Thanks!

 

[junebuguf]

Its great that you're looking for medicine-related volunteering, but you should know that most schools don't really care if you have healthcare experiences or other volunteering experiences. You absolutely do not need any healthcare volunteering experience to get into medical school. You just need to show a commitment to helping people, which can manifest itself in many different ways.

More importantly, you should find a volunteering opportunity that you're excited about. If you're active outdoors, look for opportunities to take children on camping trips, or tutor children, or work with drug addicts, things like that. No one wants to hear about another summer volunteer carting patients around the ER. Finding a position that gets you excited will make you a better volunteer and give you a better story to tell in your PS and interviews. Most people can tell when someone is volunteering in a hospital for the sake of getting volunteer experience, as opposed to really helping people. Also, I would argue that most non-healthcare volunteering positions are far more fulfilling, since they allow you to really impact someone's life.

If you are determined to find healthcare opportunities, you should know that short of having EMT credentials or going through extensive training to become a counselor, you are not going to get direct patient contact, other than by entertaining patients or escorting them from one room to another.